Digital Government
Can vendors protest subcontracting decisions?
A company representative asked the following question: When a contracting decision is made by a federal agency, a disappointed offeror may file a bid protest with the General Accounting Office if it thinks that the procurement was conducted improperly. Are subcontracting decisions subject to the same procedures?
Digital Government
Mapping GIS through space and time
When entrepreneur and former nursery worker Jack Dangermond asks, What is a tree? he's not spouting a cliche he heard years ago in some college philosophy class. He's serious.
Digital Government
Agencies '99.9 percent compliant' for Y2K
All but one of the federal government's missioncritical computer systems are expected to be capable of operating Jan. 1, and problems with the remaining system a military battlefield command and control system should be avoided by a workaround, the Clinton administration reported last week.
Digital Government
Federal Web sites that have been defaced since Oct. 20
After repeated break-ins through the same door, a shaken business owner likely would get the message and buy a sturdy lock, a big dog or a loud alarm.
Digital Government
A defrag in time saves nine: Two NT disk optimizers
Ever notice how much more sprightly your computers are after you've reformatted the drive and reinstalled software? That's because the file fragmentation that occurs when you open, change and resave data files eventually slows the system down. And that effect can be especially noticeable on heavily used data and application servers.
Digital Government
On the Y2K stakeout
Well before midnight on New Year's Eve, Raleigh Owens will climb into his car and drive the 10 miles into West Branch, Iowa, to the Herbert Hoover presidential library, where he will wait for the new millennium to arrive.
Digital Government
DynCorp expands reach with GTE buy
DynCorp, already a large information technology services provider to the government, should be able to expand the range of services it offers to federal customers since completing its purchase last week of GTE Information Systems LLC.
Digital Government
Forbes slams IT programs
In a broadside against electronic information gathering by the federal government, Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes last week warned that databases containing personal medical information, employment and income data and other sensitive information are an increasing threat to personal privacy.
Digital Government
Set Asides
The Commerce Department has delayed until Jan. 14 issuing new rules to ease restrictions on exporting encryption technology so that officials can review the changes.
Digital Government
Systems Administrator Certification (DISA Approach)
After repeated break-ins through the same door, a shaken business owner likely would get the message and buy a sturdy lock, a big dog or a loud alarm.
Digital Government
Hiring must include disabled
The government has not done enough to hire people with disabilities, but that is set to change.
Digital Government
Fedwire Briefs
The Clinton administration last week issued two executive memorandums directing federal agencies to use information technology to offer better access to services and information.
Digital Government
GSA's Ustad dies after cancer battle
Ida Ustad, deputy associate administrator for acquisition policy at the General Services Administration, died Nov. 29 of complications from cancer.
Digital Government
Blame for Year 2000 hysteria starts at GAO
When the grand anticlimax to the Year 2000 problem occurs Jan. 1, the media likely will be full of experts who knew all along that the dire predictions were gross exaggerations and that the supposed cure was many times worse than the disease. If anyone is to be heard above that coming din, it is best to speak up now.
Digital Government
Pa. Gov. Signs Electronic Transactions Act
Gov. Tom Ridge last week signed the Electronic Transactions Act, making Pennsylvania the first state to enact the recommended version of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, which gives electronic signatures the same legality as those on paper.
Digital Government
Lee indictment ignites polygraph, security debate
The Energy Department has issued new counterintelligence regulations in the aftermath of a security breach at a national laboratory that call for polygraph examinations of hundreds of agency employees, including highlevel political appointees who have access to classified information and computer systems.
Digital Government
GSA, CIO Council program produces star students
The first class of students graduated this month from a twoweek program designed to train senior federal managers on the nuances of performance and management rather than the nuts and bolts of the contracting process.
Digital Government
Technology at core of Va. education, business
Virginia Gov. James Gilmore introduced a twoyear, $48 billion budget last week that features technology as a cornerstone for the state's future in education and business development.
Digital Government
Security game: Playing for keeps
Would you be interested in a way to train network administrators about security that is fun and inexpensive? The Defense Information Systems Agency has produced a new interactive training CD that might fit the bill.
Digital Government